Life-threatening hematuria from an arteriovenous fistula complicating an open renal biopsy

Arteriovenous fistulae and pseudoaneurysms are not rare after renal biopsy. The majority of these lesions (80%) are asymptomatic or show only transient symptoms. We present here a patient who developed life-threatening hematuria following an open renal biopsy. Arteriovenous fistula and pseudoaneurysm were detected in the biopsied kidney by color-coded Doppler sonography, confirmed by angiography, and the fistula was sealed by superselective arterial embolization with metallic coils. Color-coded Doppler sonography successfully detects the majority of arteriovenous fistulae after renal biopsy, and selective arterial embolization obviates the need for surgical intervention in most cases.